If you have a Thailand visa and are going outside the kingdom for some time and are coming back within your visa validity term, you need to get a re-entry permit before leaving, otherwise, your visa will be forfeited.

There are two types of re-entry permits: Single Re-entry which costs 1,000 baht and Multiple Re-entry for 3,800 baht. Get the Single Re-entry permit if you seldomly go out of Thailand such as having your short vacation to your home country. The Multiple Re-entry permit is for those who travel frequently outside Thailand.

Your spouse, if not working and has a Non-O visa (dependant), also needs to have a separate re-entry permit.

The processing time to get a re-entry permit varies from 10 minutes to an hour in Thailand international airports, but may take half the day in other offices. Getting the re-entry permit in the airport requires that you must be leaving on the same day.

You may also get your re-entry permit at the Thai Immigration Office at The Government Complex, Chaengwattana, Bangkok, or any local immigration office days before your departure date.

If you plan to get your re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi or Don Muaeng airport, you need to be early to give time for its processing. They usually queue the application papers in batches instead of processing your paper as soon as it leaves your hand.

At Suvarnabhumi airport, you can do your re-entry on the 4th Floor, Zone 2. Look for the Re-Entry Service at the Passport Control.

These are the requirements to get a Re-entry permit:

• You must have a visa and departing Thailand
• The application must be made in person.
• Completed TM-8 form. You can download it here.
• Colored photo (4cm x 6cm)
• Photocopy of passport (main page and latest entry stamp)
• Re-entry fee

Once processing your re-ntry permit is done, they will give you a receipt with the re-entry permit number. It is important to keep this receipt and make it ready in case the immigration officer ask for it upon returning to Thailand.